Starting from the Planetary Governor

"Mr. Perbov says that an envoy has already been dispatched," Perbov stated, "hoping those two would know better."

"But we can’t pin all our hope on diplomatic efforts," Leroy emphasized, "what can’t be obtained on the battlefield, can’t be expected to be obtained through diplomacy either. That’s also Mr. Gu’s saying. Unless those two ambitious marquises understand that they can’t interfere with the battle for Pincer City, they won’t be too honest. The 2nd Division must be prepared to fight a tough battle."

...

However, the worries of both men didn’t come true.

After receiving a reminder from the headquarters, the commander of the 2nd Division sent out many reconnaissance units to closely monitor the troops of the two marquises gathering in the south.

The focus was specifically on those two Knight Titans.

The space warriors and the Allied Air Force were on standby, ready for battle. Once these two things appeared on the battlefield, the scenes that had been played out twice before could have the chance to be enacted again.

However, the attitudes of the two marquises were rather ambiguous.

On one hand, they put strong pressure on the envoy sent by Gu Hang, speaking very harshly; on the other hand, their actual actions were few, and apart from mustering troops, there were no further movements.

Marquises Yassago and Janviers once again expressed their strong dissatisfaction and protest to the envoy from Rage Owl Star, and after seeing the envoy off, the severe and fierce expressions on their faces were simultaneously removed.

Both looked at each other and sighed.

With a worried frown, Yassago said, "Our protests are useless. The Allied forces must have already begun their attack on Pincer City by now, right?"

"What can we do about it?" Marquis Janviers said, "You’re not in favor of sending troops. I say, let’s just try and attack. The Rage Owl Star People defending the south side of Pincer City number only a little over ten thousand, while we have two hundred thousand troops, two hundred knights, and you and me. Are we afraid of these ten thousand?"

Yassago said, "From the King’s ambitious plots to complete collapse, how long did it take? Only half a month! Half a month ago, King Nes of Luman was still thinking about how to permanently occupy the governorship, even risking all his assets, and got involved in the Gu Family’s internal strife. Now he can only beg us to save him. Do you also want to experience the same fate?"

Janviers fell silent.

If he had the courage, he wouldn’t be here whining with Yassago.

Truth be told, King Nes of Luman wasn’t a bad king. In the past few years, he’s been manipulating politics on one hand and focusing on development on the other. Many nobles, both great and small, were drawn into what’s called the Royal Knights, and the power and privileges of the traditional nobility were continuously reduced.

In their place was the gradually strengthening centralized power of King Nes of Luman.

This placed a great pressure on Yassago and Janviers, the two traditional marquis lords. And among these pressures, the biggest source was the Royal Knights.

Four Knight Titans, four hundred knights, and three-quarters of the country’s land and population were already under the centralized control of the king. Even the two of them had to show respect to the king and repeatedly reaffirm their loyalty.

Such a king and a Royal Knights, which had been so oppressive for their two families that they couldn’t catch a breath, were defeated by the people of Rage Owl Star in half a month.

Who wouldn’t be afraid?

Very afraid.

But now, the two of them still had disagreements.

"If we stand by and do nothing, and those people from Rage Owl Star capture Pincer City and win the war, what will our position be?" Janviers asked a critical question. ṘäɴȫᛒЕŚ

This was exactly where they found themselves in a dilemma.

The envoys from Rage Owl Star communicated Governor Gu Hang’s ’goodwill’ to them, providing terms.

According to the envoy’s words, they characterized King Nes of Luman’s actions as ’rebellion’.

This term made the two marquises feel rather ridiculous: The King committing treason?

But they soon realized that the ’rebellion’ Mr. Gu referred to was not the betrayal they commonly conceived in their minds, but rather betrayal against the Empire.

King Nes of Luman had attacked on his own initiative the Gu Family, a member of the Empire’s official merchants’ association, and such a hostile act was already considered a betrayal against the Empire; he must pay the price for it.

This was a non-negotiable premise; Mr. Gu had made his intention very clear.

No matter what the cost Nes of Luman has to pay, the fundamental premise is non-negotiable. The anger of the Gu Family will not be extinguished by anything or any statement; they will capture that King of Luman. Whoever dares hinder this, will become an enemy of the Gu Family, an enemy of Rage Owl Star.

Under this non-negotiable fundamental premise, there is room for discussion on other matters.

The two Marquises can still retain their titles and pass them down through generations; they can still keep their own armies, as well as control over their territories.

As for the Luman Kingdom as a whole, it will be preserved. They need to maintain their allegiance to this entity.

From nominal obedience and management to fulfilling tax obligations and military duties.

What does this mean?

Are we to have a new King?

How can this be...

It seems not unacceptable?

The history of the Luman Kingdom spans hundreds of years, with the Luman dynasty having always been the ruler of this nation. But earlier on, this land was a battleground of multiple nations, until the Luman family united the whole realm and maintained this unity for hundreds of years.

Throughout these centuries, it seems that the people have become accustomed to, taken for granted even, the Luman family’s control over this land. But in fact, once this psychological barrier is removed, people might realize that having a different King isn’t such a big deal after all?

Would life really change?

For the common people, it appears not, and it seems the same for the two Marquises.

After all, the terms offered by Governor Gu Hang’s envoy were the same as the conditions they had when they previously served the Luman family.

Life went on as before, and so it will now.

"No way!" Janviers shook his head and said, "The Luman family is one thing, but how can we accept a bunch of aliens sitting on top of us? Moreover, we are not without chances. Those Rage Owl Star People forces total just tens of thousands. With the Luman family troops still in Pincer City, if we join forces, we can drive those Rage Owl Star People away, and the whole kingdom will be ours!

The Luman family has no longer the power to compete with us!"

"Besides, it is not just us. The other nations, can they really accept a state controlled by aliens on Heijian Star? If we send out envoys, we can garner support! At worst, we cede some territory..."

Janviers grew more excited as he spoke. Read new chapters at empire

However, Yassago threw cold water on his plans: "By the time you’ve summoned foreign troops, Pincer City will have already been taken."

"Uh..." Janviers hesitated and then said, "That’s the reason we exist! We must march and hold off those Rage Owl Star People forces. Moreover, even if Pincer City falls and Nes of Luman dies, it doesn’t matter. We can continue the war as long as we can get the other countries on Heijian Star on our side. Can those Rage Owl Star People really defeat us on our home turf?"

Yassago continued to shake his head: "Yes, they can. They have the help of interstellar warriors, they also have space superiority. That Gu Ming, once he’s done for, the interstellar force of the Gu Family will once again be controlled by Governor Gu Hang. Our planet’s orbit will be in their hands, and we must fight the Rage Owl Star People under orbital strikes."

After a pause, he continued: "The largest external trade partner of the entire Heijian Star is the Gu Family. Without them, our weapons will be fewer with each battle, and even the Titan could sustain damage without any place for repairs."

At this point, Yassago concluded: "In conclusion, I’ve made my decision. I’m going to quietly watch what happens to Pincer City from here. I will not let my troops attack the Rage Owl Star People. As for you, do as you please."

Janviers frowned deeply.

He had to admit, Yassago had made some very valid points.

And what’s more, without Yassago’s movement, the forces he could mobilize were insufficient for the plan he had described.

Even combined, they might not be able to manage it, let alone him alone.

He wanted to persuade Yassago further, but Yassago didn’t give him the chance, leaving straight away.

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